Apparatus, Systems and Methods for Anchoring a Structure

ABSTRACT

The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to an improved support post.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/347,400, filed Jun. 8, 2016 and entitled “Apparatus, Systems AndMethods For Anchoring A Structure,” which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety under 35 U.S.C. §119(e).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The various embodiments herein relate to an improved anchoring post foruse with a temporary structure.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates to apparatus, systems and methods for anchoring asupport structure, such as a ground blind. Ground blinds are designed tobe easy to move and place, but are typically light and provideinsufficient anchoring in strong winds and extreme weather. The improvedpost 10 addresses this shortcoming in the art.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Discussed herein are various implementations of an improved post foranchoring a temporary structure, such as a hunting blind, pergola orother structure.

One Example includes a support post, including a hollow, elongate shaftincluding a lumen and a base plate including a mating opening, where theelongate shaft and base plate are configured to allow support rodpassage into the mating opening and lumen. Implementations of thisExample may include one or more of the following features. The postfurther including a mating opening flange. The post where the elongateshaft has first and second ends, and the mating opening flange isconstructed and arranged to couple to the shaft at the first or secondend. The post further including a support rod. The post where thesupport rod is a T-post. The post further including a structure. Thesystem further including a base plate configured to be attached to theelongate shaft.

Another Example includes a support system for a structure, including atleast one support post, each support post including an elongate shaftincluding a lumen, and an elongate support rod configured to be anchoredin ground, where the support post is configured to be attached to thestructure, and where the support post is mounted on the support rod viathe lumen. Implementations of this Example may include one or more ofthe following features. The system further including a base plateconfigured to be attached to the elongate shaft. The system where thebase plate includes a mating opening. The system further including amating opening flange. The system where the elongate shaft has first andsecond ends, and the mating opening flange is constructed and arrangedto couple to the shaft at the first or second end. The system where theelongate shaft and base plate are configured to allow support rodpassage into the mating opening and lumen. The system further includinga base plate configured to be attached to the elongate shaft. The systemwhere the base plate includes a mating opening and flange constructedand arranged to couple to the elongate shaft. The system where theelongate shaft and base plate are configured to accommodate theadvancement of the support rod into the mating opening and lumen. Thesystem where structure is a hunting blind. The system where structure isa pergola. The system where the support rod is a T-post. The systemwhere the base plate includes at least one hole.

Another Example includes a support system, including at least onesupport post, each support post including an elongate shaft including alumen; an elongate support rod configured to be anchored in ground; anda structure, where the at least one support post is configured to beattached to the structure, and where the support rod is configured toprevent movement of the structure via the at least one elongate shaft.Implementations according to this Example may include one or more of thefollowing features. The system further including a base plate configuredto be attached to the elongate shaft. The system where the base plateincludes a mating opening and flange constructed and arranged to coupleto the elongate shaft. The system where the elongate shaft and baseplate are configured to accommodate the advancement of the support rodinto the mating opening and lumen. The system where structure is ahunting blind. The system where structure is a pergola. The system wherethe support rod is a T-post. The system where the base plate includes atleast one hole.

While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of thedisclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from thefollowing detailed description, which shows and describes illustrativeembodiments of the disclosed apparatus, systems and methods. As will berealized, the disclosed apparatus, systems and methods are capable ofmodifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from thespirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings anddetailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature andnot restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the improved post, according to oneimplementation.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a known temporary structure havingimproved posts installed, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 1C is a perspective view of an alternate known temporary structurehaving improved posts installed, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2A is a perspective bottom view of the elongate shaft separatedfrom the base plate, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a support rod, according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the placement of the elongate shaft overthe rod, according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective bottom view of the elongate shaft being mountedto the base plate, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective bottom view of the base plate, according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the base plate being positioned over thesupport rod, according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The various embodiments disclosed and contemplated herein relate tomethods and devices for anchoring a temporary structure, such as ahunting blind. In various implementations, the devices and methodsrelate to an improved post 10 and securing a temporary structure 1 suchas the ground blind shown in the implementation of FIGS. 1A-1C. It isunderstood that while many of the exemplary embodiments disclosed hereindiscuss temporary structures such as hunting blinds, the various deviceimplementations disclosed or contemplated herein can be used with anykind of structure or other device requiring anchoring. It is furtherunderstood that while the implementations of FIGS. 1B and 1C depict4-cornered, or posted, structures, in alternate implementations andn-cornered structure can be accommodated.

In various implementations, and as shown in FIG. 1A, the post 10 has acentral lumen 18 defined therethrough that is configured to allow forpassage of a support rod 20 therethrough as shown below. In theseimplementations, the support rod 20 is embedded in or otherwise fixedlyattached to the ground to provide structural anchoring of the structure1, as is described further herein. In implementations like that shown inFIG. 1B, which shows a structure 1 that is a hunting blind 1 and 1C,which shows the post 10 installed in a structure 1 that is a pergola 1.In these and other implementations, the improved post 10 can be disposedat several corners 2, 4, 6 of the structure 1. As will be appreciated byone of skill in the art, the post 10 of various implementations can beused with any number of temporary, semi-temporary and permanentstructures, some non-limiting examples including hunting blinds,pergolas, tents, tee-pees, and other pop-up or other installedstructures known in the art.

As shown in the implementation of FIG. 2A, the elongate post 10 has ahollow, generally elongate support shaft 12 having first 12A and second12B ends. It is understood that while this implementation is an elongaterectangular shaft 12, other cross-sectional shapes are possible, such asround, oval, square, or other known extruded or otherwise formed shapescapable of forming or otherwise defining a lumen 18 therethrough. It isunderstood that in alternate implementations, the lumen 18 can be anopening which is “open,” that is, not entirely encircling an object suchas a rod passed therethrough.

As is shown in FIG. 2A, in various implementations the post 10 has abase plate 14 having a flange 15 and mating lumen or opening 16 disposedtherethrough. In various implementations, the base plate 14 and matingopening 16 are constructed and arranged or otherwise configured tocouple with the shaft 12 such that the opening 16 is aligned with theshaft lumen 18 via friction or other known forces for coupling a lumenor lumen-like structure in the manner as a male/female coupling. It isunderstood that these various implementations align the mating opening16 of the base 14 with the lumen 18 so as to allow passage of a supportrod 20, such as a T-post, as shown in FIG. 2B. It is further understoodthat alternate implementations can be configured so as to allow the base14 and shaft 12 to be urged into fixed and co-lumenal communication withone another to allow said passage of the support rod, as is describedherein.

Accordingly, as would be understood by a skilled artisan, in exemplaryembodiments the flange 15 and opening 16 are sized to be snugly fittedwithin the lumen 18 on the inner lumen surface 18A, and in alternateembodiments the flange 15 and opening 16 are sized to be snugly fittedoutside the lumen 18 by the inner mating surface 17. While theimplementations of FIGS. 1-2A depict the lumen 18 and mating opening 16formed by the flange 15 as substantially square, it would be apparent toone of skill in the art that further implementations are of coursepossible.

Turning to the implementation of FIG. 3, in use of the post according tocertain implementations, it possible to drive a support rod 20 into theground 22, and fit the improved post 10 over the rod 20 through theopening 16 and lumen 18 to anchor the post 10. Accordingly, in use, itis possible under these implementations to secure each of the “corners”or other support pieces, sides or ends of a structure by driving thesupport rods into the ground—either individually or in sequence—and thenfitting each of the shafts 12 over the rods to erect or otherwise tetherthe structure (best shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C) into place. It is furtherunderstood that in certain of these implementations, the structure(again, shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C comprises flexible sections or portionsthat allow it to be fitted over or otherwise to the posts 20. Inalternate implementations, the structure is modular and configured to beassembled in conjunction with the fitting of the shafts 12.

Other implementations of known construction techniques are possible, andit is understood that in each of these implementations, the rods 20 canbe placed or otherwise settled into the ground prior to, or during,erection of the structure so as to secure the structure to the anchoringsupport rods 20. It is further understood that the rod 20 is advancedinto the mating opening 16 and lumen 18 during insertion according tocertain implementations. It will be appreciated that once the supportrod 20 is advanced into position inside the lumen 18, the support rod 20will prevent lateral movement of the structure 1.

In various of these implementations, the outer rod surface 20A is ableto prevent significant post 10 movement by abutting against the innershaft surface 18A and/or inner mating opening surface 16A, as would beunderstood by one of skill in the art. In various implementations, thecross-sectional size of the inner shaft surface 18A and/or inner matingopening surface 16A can be set so as to accommodate a variety of rods20, such as T-posts, rebar, and the like, and to permit some degree ofsway and ease of assembly, as described above.

As best shown in the implementation of FIG. 4, the shaft 12 and matingopening 16/flange 15 can have paired mounting points 24, 26 configuredto allow the insertion of fasteners (not shown) to fixedly attach theshaft and base plate 14. In further implementations, the base plate 14can have plate holes 28 configured to allow the passage of fasteners(not shown) into the ground or other surface, such as tent posts.

As shown in FIG. 5, in certain implementations, the mating opening 16mounting points 26 can have optional mounting posts 30 configured toaccommodate and couple to a fastener passed through the shaft hole(shown in FIG. 4 at 24), so as to provide additional mounting support.It would be apparent to one of skill in the art that these mountingposts 30 can extend into the of the mating opening lumen defined by theinner opening surface 16A without preventing the support rod 20 fromadvancing into the mating opening 16 and lumen 18 during insertion. Inalternate implementations, the mounting posts 30 are not required.

According to any embodiment disclosed or contemplated herein, FIG. 6depicts the passage of such a rod 20 through the mating opening 16 andlumen 18 so as to be in physical communication with the inner openingsurface 16A. It is understood that in various implementations, thesupport rod 20 has a smaller diameter or exterior circumference than thediameter or circumference of the opening 16 and lumen 18, though theratio of these diameters and/or circumferences or perimeters may varybetween implementations. In various implementations, direct contactbetween the support rod 20 and the inner surfaces of the opening 16Aand/or lumen 18A need not be continuous, nor constant. Rather, it isunderstood that in these implementations, the elongate shaft 12 isunderstood to be constrained in its movement by the presence of thesupport rod 20 within. In alternate implementations, the support post 20is snug fitting within the lumen 18.

Although the disclosure has been described with reference to preferredembodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes maybe made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scopeof the disclosed apparatus, systems and methods.

What is claimed is:
 1. A support post, comprising: a. a hollow, elongateshaft comprising a lumen; and b. a base plate comprising a matingopening, wherein the elongate shaft and base plate are configured toallow support rod passage into the mating opening and lumen.
 2. The postof claim 1, further comprising a mating opening flange.
 3. The post ofclaim 2, wherein the elongate shaft has first and second ends, and themating opening flange is constructed and arranged to couple to the shaftat the first or second end.
 4. The post of claim 3, further comprising asupport rod.
 5. The post of claim 4, wherein the support rod is aT-post.
 6. The post of claim 5, further comprising a structure.
 7. Asupport system for a structure, comprising: a. at least one supportpost, each support post comprising an elongate shaft comprising a lumen;and b. an elongate support rod configured to be anchored in ground,wherein the support post is configured to be attached to the structure,and wherein the support post is mounted on the support rod via thelumen.
 8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a base plateconfigured to be attached to the elongate shaft.
 9. The system of claim8, wherein the base plate comprises a mating opening.
 10. The system ofclaim 9, further comprising a mating opening flange.
 11. The system ofclaim 10, wherein the elongate shaft has first and second ends, and themating opening flange is constructed and arranged to couple to the shaftat the first or second end.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein theelongate shaft and base plate are configured to allow support rodpassage into the mating opening and lumen.
 13. A support system,comprising: a. at least one support post, each support post comprisingan elongate shaft comprising a lumen; b. an elongate support rodconfigured to be anchored in ground; and c. a structure, wherein the atleast one support post is configured to be attached to the structure,and wherein the support rod is configured to prevent movement of thestructure via the at least one elongate shaft.
 14. The system of claim13, further comprising a base plate configured to be attached to theelongate shaft.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the base platecomprises a mating opening and flange constructed and arranged to coupleto the elongate shaft.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the elongateshaft and base plate are configured to accommodate the advancement ofthe support rod into the mating opening and lumen.
 17. The system ofclaim 15, wherein structure is a hunting blind.
 18. The system of claim15, wherein structure is a pergola.
 19. The system of claim 15, whereinthe support rod is a T-post.
 20. The system of claim 15, wherein thebase plate comprises at least one hole.